LATER CHOLAS

Inscriptions : Later Cholas __ Sources The later Cholas became prominent in the 9th Century and established an empire comprising the major portion of South India and they were called as the Imperial Cholas . The Sources for the history of the Later Cholas were classified into Inscriptions , Monuments , Numismatic sources and Literary sources . Inscriptions : Inscriptions were placed on the walls of the temples and pillars , about the life of the rulers , Administration , Political , Economic , Religious , Social and Cultural conditions during the Cholas period . The Inscriptions in the Brahadeeswarar temple at Tanjore known as “ Big Temple “ . Many important inscriptions are found in Cuddalore , Villupuram , Trichy , Tanjore , Chidambaram , Kumbakonam and Nagapattinam .

The stone inscriptions give us useful information about the administration of the Cholas rulers . The Thiruvandhipuram stone inscriptions give information about the reign of Rejendra –III . The Uttaramerur Inscriptions give information about the Kudavolai system , Village Administration , Taxation and Land revenue . Anbil Plates , the Kanyakumari stone inscriptions , Karanthai Plates and Thiruvalangadu Copper Plates give useful information about the Cholas . The Tanjore Peruvudaiyar temple Inscriptions talk about the existence of Saivism . The Inscriptions of Cheras , Pandyas , Rashtrakutas and Ganges speak about the Cholas .

Monuments The Brahadeewarar Temple at Tanjore ,the Gangaikonda Cholapuram Temple Airavateesvarar Temple of Dharasuram and the Kanbagareswarar Temple in Thirupuvanam are some of the important monuments of the Cholas . Numismatics Sources : The Cholas kings issued Gold , Silver and Copper coins . Figure of Tiger was engraved as the Chola Emblem on every Chola coin issued during that period . King Rajaraja issued a new Ceylon type of coins . Chola coins are useful to fix the Chronology of the Chola rulers .

Literary Sources . The literary sources are very useful for the study of the Cholas . Sekkilar’s Periyapuranam deals with the life of Saiva devotees . Sekkilar was a contemporary of Kulothunga – II . Kalingathupparani of Jayamkondan , Three Ulas and the Kulothungan Pillai Tamil of Ottakkoothar give useful information about the Cholas . Other literary works like Veerasoliyam , Sthalapuranam and Cholavarma Charitham about the early Cholas . Foreign Sources : Mahavamsam , the Ceylon literature talks about the relationship between the early Chola Country and Ceylon kingdom and also speaks about the Chola rule in Ceylon . European traveller Marcopolo and foreign writer Magesthanese give interesting information about the Cholas . Al –beruni a Muslim historian writes about the Cholas .

Political history of the Cholas . Vijayalaya Chola : King Vijayalaya was the founder of the later Chola dynasty . Vijayalaya captured Tanjore from the Muttaraiyas and made it his capital in 850 AD . His son Aditya put an end to the Pallava kingdom by defeating Aparajita and annexed Tondaimandalam . Vijayalaya also annexed the Kongu country . He was a woshipper of Siva .

Parantaka – I : 907 AD – 953 AD : Uttaramerur Inscriptions speak about Parantaka –I He was a son of Aditya . He was a devotee of Lord Siva He conquered many parts of Southern India and extended his boundary . He captured Madurai . Thus he assumed the title of Maduraikondan . After defeating the combined armies of the Pandyas and Ceylon kings , he assumed the title of “ Maduraiyum Ezhamum Kondan “ He extended his empire upto Nellore in North .

He provided golden roof to the Nataraja temple at Chidambaram and came to be called as “ Pon Veintha Cholan “ . He was a great builder of temples. He provided the Vimana of the famous Nataraja temple at Chidambaram with a golden roof . The famous Uttaramerur Inscriptions give a detailed account of the Village administration under the Cholas belong to his reign . But he suffered a defeat at the hands of the Rashtrakutas in the famous battle of Takkolam . He was succeeded by Kandaraditya , Arinjaya , Sundara Chola alias Parantaka – II and Uttama Chola . After a gap of thirty years , the Cholas regained their supremacy under Rajaraja –I .

Rajaraja – I : 985 AD – 1014 AD :